Kīlauea shares the name of the active volcano, Mt. Kilauea. The name literally translates to "spewing" or '"much spreading" in Hawaiian.[1]

Kilauea was once nicknamed the “Guava Capital of the World”[2] because it was home to the Guava Kai Plantation, the largest guava plantation in the world. The Guava Kai Plantation closed in late 2006/early 2007.[3]

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Kilauea as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. According to the Hawaii State Info website, 2,248 people reside in Kilauea, which is 1.5 square miles.[4]